We went to the lake last night and spent some time on the boat with my father-in-law. I took my niece tubing, and she had fun at first until the water got too choppy. Then G joined me. He was a little apprehensive, but brave.
We started out and he didn't like how fast it was going. I started to slip, and I couldn't let go of the handle to signal my father-in-law to slow down or stop. G and I started yelling "stop!" and finally got stopped. I climbed more forward on the tube, but apparently a little [i]too far[/i] forward. The boat started up again, and within seconds, the tube tipped forward, and G and I fell off head-first into the water. Thank goodness for lifejackets! And that G had just finished two weeks of swim lessons and so was probably a little more prepared for going underwater than he would have been otherwise. He didn't stay unerwater long, in any case, according to Nick who could see it all better than I could.
He was not at all happy about it, though I did my best to be cheerful and humorous. He recovered all right, but I don't think we'll be able to convince him to ride the tube again anytime soon. After we got him back on the boat, I took another turn on the tube because I wanted to show him that it was still okay. I got thrown again. And then I took one more short ride. I hope at least that G can understand that, while getting thrown was not pleasant, he's still alive and okay, and that it won't deter him too much from taking those small risks in the future (though I by no means expect or want him to be a complete daredevil, haha).
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Pictures from our Massachusetts Trip-- Third Installment
Taken from the deck of the ferry on the way to Martha's Vineyard:
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Pictures from our Massachusetts Trip-- Second Installment
The boys and I met a lot of Nick's mother's family for the first time. G enjoyed spending a good deal of time with Nick's cousin, O.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Pictures from our Massachusetts Trip-- First Installment
Videos will have to come later, as they have to be uploaded to YouTube first so my parents can view them on their iMac.
The boys at the airport, watching the airplanes through the window:
Here's G, ready to Fly! He really enjoyed looking out the window to "see the world."
Z was happy enough starting out, until take-off time...poor kid was miserable every time we took off or landed, which happened a total of eight times the entire trip.
Taking the shuttle to pick up our rental car (Nick's dad was also traveling with us). Z was so snuggly, I had to get a picture:
The first night, the boys shared a Queen bed. In the morning, they looked like this:
Thankfully, the rest of the nights they each had their own beds.
Our first day playing on the beach. It was raining a little and Z got cold, so he spent most of the time inside the beach hut:
G spotted a "fish" out in the water. It turned out to be a horseshoe crab...
Here's G, excited with his discovery:
The underside of a horseshoe crab:
The back, barnacles and all:
That black spot in the middle is an eye...
Here, my sons' hands touching the crab, shown here for scale. My mother-in-law said this was actually small for a horseshoe crab.
Bye-bye horseshoe crab! Thanks for posing!
The boys at the airport, watching the airplanes through the window:
Thankfully, the rest of the nights they each had their own beds.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Trip to Massachusetts
Just got back yesterday from a week-long trip to Massachusetts. Pictures and videos will come later. But for now, our trip in a nutshell, in the form of a bullet point list of thoughts-- some of which may be expounded upon later.
1. My toddler hates flying. I have probably scarred him for life.
2. My four-year-old refuses to accept that mountains seen from an altitude of 3,000 feet are still mountains.
3. I still sunburn, even at age 26. My husband still sunburns at age 33.
4. I was reminded again how much I love Boston.
5. I missed the smell of fresh mountain air. Sea air smell is not unpleasant, but it's so different from what I'm used to.
6. My hair gets wavy in high humidity.
7. My sister-in-law's husband is a riot when playing tabletop games.
8. Jigsaw puzzles are so much more enjoyable when I have someone else to do them with, and when I just don't concern myself with finishing the sky.
9. My four-year-old cried and cried about wanting to go home, and then when it was finally time to go, he cried and cried that he didn't want to leave!
10. If I lived in a major East Coast city, I would always use the public transit. And I would love it.
11. My husband is GREAT :)
12. I like food waaaay too much.
13. I hate how my voice sounds when it's hoarse; I feel like I'm yelling all the time just to be heard.
14. Sleeping on an airplane is not recommended. Neither is getting up at 3 AM to catch a 6 AM flight.
15. My toddler slept from 7:00 PM to 6 AM last night. ALL IN HIS OWN BED. He was so exhausted, though, I don't expect it will become a habit, sadly.
16. Knock-knock jokes get really annoying after a while, especially when they're being told by a four-year-old.
17. I wish I had noticed that solitary piece of Shredded Wheat on the kitchen floor before we left for the week; now I've come home to a sugar ant invasion.
18. Seat Belt Bags!
19. I like rain. And overcast days.
20. The ocean is nice, but I love my Mountains!
1. My toddler hates flying. I have probably scarred him for life.
2. My four-year-old refuses to accept that mountains seen from an altitude of 3,000 feet are still mountains.
3. I still sunburn, even at age 26. My husband still sunburns at age 33.
4. I was reminded again how much I love Boston.
5. I missed the smell of fresh mountain air. Sea air smell is not unpleasant, but it's so different from what I'm used to.
6. My hair gets wavy in high humidity.
7. My sister-in-law's husband is a riot when playing tabletop games.
8. Jigsaw puzzles are so much more enjoyable when I have someone else to do them with, and when I just don't concern myself with finishing the sky.
9. My four-year-old cried and cried about wanting to go home, and then when it was finally time to go, he cried and cried that he didn't want to leave!
10. If I lived in a major East Coast city, I would always use the public transit. And I would love it.
11. My husband is GREAT :)
12. I like food waaaay too much.
13. I hate how my voice sounds when it's hoarse; I feel like I'm yelling all the time just to be heard.
14. Sleeping on an airplane is not recommended. Neither is getting up at 3 AM to catch a 6 AM flight.
15. My toddler slept from 7:00 PM to 6 AM last night. ALL IN HIS OWN BED. He was so exhausted, though, I don't expect it will become a habit, sadly.
16. Knock-knock jokes get really annoying after a while, especially when they're being told by a four-year-old.
17. I wish I had noticed that solitary piece of Shredded Wheat on the kitchen floor before we left for the week; now I've come home to a sugar ant invasion.
18. Seat Belt Bags!
19. I like rain. And overcast days.
20. The ocean is nice, but I love my Mountains!
Monday, June 20, 2011
With Love From Spain
I also like this picture because Z is looking up at his big brother. He really does look up to G in so many ways (sometimes to G's frustration).
I love my boys.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day
My dad is a good man.
Through the years, he and I haven't always agreed.
He hurt my feelings a time or two.
But I always knew he loved me. And how do I know this?
He taught me to love reading and learning.
He taught and expected me to work hard and to be self-sufficient.
He served me and my family in countless ways. He went to work every work day, often performing dull and thankless tasks, so that I could have food to eat, a bed to sleep in, piano lessons and voice lessons, and fun vacations from time to time. And when we went on these vacations, he was usually the one to drive, even as the rest of us entertained ourselves or slept.
Sure, I can remember times where he lost his temper, or got annoyed at things that seemed so minor and petty to me; but as a parent myself now, I have much more sympathy and understanding than I did back then, and I pass no judgment on my dad-- or my mom-- for any of their perceived failings. And anyway, they did a pretty darn good job, even in spite of themselves. I hope I can do at least as well with my own children as they did with me and my siblings.
My father was and IS an exceptional man.
He sat with me and patiently walked me through countless complex math problems, explaining them to me the best he could, even though I often failed to understand and more than a handful of times ended up screaming and running to my room with tears of frustration in my eyes.
He took the time to gather our family together every evening to read our scriptures and pray together. We gave him a hard time sometimes, joking around or trying to wrap up conversations which were sometimes difficult to put down. I imagine there must have been times where he and my mom both dreaded that looming half-hour every evening, knowing there was the possibility of chaos and near-warfare at times. They must have been so exhausted and tempted to just send us all to bed right away (or at least go to bed themselves) without all the fuss of "family time."
He served in various church callings, cheerfully and willingly. And he always supported my mother in her church duties as well.
He gave me a Father's Blessing every year before I started school; he blessed me when I was sick, or any other time I asked him. He kept himself worthy to perform these blessings at a moment's notice.
Sure, he wasn't perfect. But he never gave up trying.
I love my dad. He is worth loving. And his love is worth desiring, and I know he shares it willingly with me. I am so grateful for that, and for all that he does.
Thank you, Daddy. I love you.
~Sylvia
Through the years, he and I haven't always agreed.
He hurt my feelings a time or two.
But I always knew he loved me. And how do I know this?
He taught me to love reading and learning.
He taught and expected me to work hard and to be self-sufficient.
He served me and my family in countless ways. He went to work every work day, often performing dull and thankless tasks, so that I could have food to eat, a bed to sleep in, piano lessons and voice lessons, and fun vacations from time to time. And when we went on these vacations, he was usually the one to drive, even as the rest of us entertained ourselves or slept.
Sure, I can remember times where he lost his temper, or got annoyed at things that seemed so minor and petty to me; but as a parent myself now, I have much more sympathy and understanding than I did back then, and I pass no judgment on my dad-- or my mom-- for any of their perceived failings. And anyway, they did a pretty darn good job, even in spite of themselves. I hope I can do at least as well with my own children as they did with me and my siblings.
My father was and IS an exceptional man.
He sat with me and patiently walked me through countless complex math problems, explaining them to me the best he could, even though I often failed to understand and more than a handful of times ended up screaming and running to my room with tears of frustration in my eyes.
He took the time to gather our family together every evening to read our scriptures and pray together. We gave him a hard time sometimes, joking around or trying to wrap up conversations which were sometimes difficult to put down. I imagine there must have been times where he and my mom both dreaded that looming half-hour every evening, knowing there was the possibility of chaos and near-warfare at times. They must have been so exhausted and tempted to just send us all to bed right away (or at least go to bed themselves) without all the fuss of "family time."
He served in various church callings, cheerfully and willingly. And he always supported my mother in her church duties as well.
He gave me a Father's Blessing every year before I started school; he blessed me when I was sick, or any other time I asked him. He kept himself worthy to perform these blessings at a moment's notice.
Sure, he wasn't perfect. But he never gave up trying.
I love my dad. He is worth loving. And his love is worth desiring, and I know he shares it willingly with me. I am so grateful for that, and for all that he does.
Thank you, Daddy. I love you.
~Sylvia
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